August 14, 2006

MINNEAPOLIS – In September 2003, Wanda Scott Bledsoe's husband returned from a church work trip to Mexico with an unexplained weakness that grew worse over the next nine months. In the newly released Walking Together through Illness, Bledsoe interviews her husband as they journey together through his illness. In each chapter she offers her experiences in caring for her husband and his responses to his illness and her care.

Each chapter of the book is introduced by scripture and focuses on the author's upbeat but realistic sharing of the challenges of a caregiver and care receiver and the faithful ways they met those challenges. Caregiver tips as well as journaling starters are included in each chapter.

Features • A powerful true story, beautifully told • Includes scripture passages for meditation and reflection • Includes a journal page for the caregiver and the care receiver • A helpful gift for use by counselors and pastors

"There are few resources to help couples navigate the minefields of life-threatening disease, serious illness, or handicap, and none as unique, practical, encouraging, and empowering as Walking Together through Illness. If you or someone you love has been told they have a terminal disease or are facing a debilitating illness, put feet to your prayers and give them a copy of this book." – Gary J. Oliver, Executive Director, the Center for Relationship Enrichment at John Brown University, and co-author of Raising Sons and Loving It! and A Woman's Forbidden Emotion.

"It was hard to put down this unique story of caring and devotion creatively told by both caregiver and care recipient. Chock full of lessons and love, a must-read for any one caring for a loved one or being card for by loved ones." – Gary Barg, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Today's Caregiver magazine and Caregiver.com.

"The unique gift of this book is the amazing honesty with which this husband and wife describe coping with a debilitating illness and the differing ways it affects them as they seek to support each other with the help of other relatives, friends, and caring health professionals." – Deborah Patterson, International Parish Nurse Resource Center.

"This personal journal tells the hopeful story of what it means to live through the shadows, uncertainties, and sufferings of life with the promise that God is always near." – Murray Finck, Bishop, Pacifica Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Despite the topic of illness, there is nothing sad about this book. I felt like I was reading Milt and Wanda's personal journals, sharing their concerns and fears, but also laughing out loud as they find the humor in any situation because love abounds. I will be enthusiastically recommending this book for many years." – Lisa Copen, Founder, Rest Ministries, and author of Why Can't I Make People Understand?

Wanda Scott Bledsoe is a freelance writer, noted speaker, and workshop leader. She is the author of His Roses and Thorns, ACW Press, 2003. Milt Bledsoe, her husband of thirty-nine years, is a banker and men's ministry leader at their church. They live in Murrieta, California, and this is the first book they have written together.

Walking Together through Illness, By Wanda Scott Bledsoe and Milt Bledsoe, Format: 5.5" x 8.5," paperback, 128 pages, ISBN: 0-8066-5292-6, Price: $11.99, Publisher: Augsburg Books.

To order Walking Together through Illness please call Augsburg Fortress at 1-800-328-4648 or visit the Web site at http://www.augsburgfortress.org/.

Augsburg Books